A MAN has been jailed for life for murdering his ex-girlfriend in Sandyford, Co Dublin after she began a relationship with another man.
It took a Central Criminal Court jury of seven men and five women an hour and a quarter to find the 49 year old guilty by unanimous verdict.
Mihalache Marian, with an address in Romania, pleaded not guilty to murdering 35-year-old Loredana Pricajan on January 28th, 2010.
The Romanian nurse was found dead in the defendant’s bedroom in a rented apartment in the grounds of the Irish Management Institute (IMI) in Sandyford. She had two cut-throat wounds to her neck, with both the carotid artery and spine severed.
The defendant was also in the bedroom and had neck and wrist wounds. He told the trial that the deceased had cut his neck, not the other way around, and that he couldn’t remember what had happened after that.
However, the doctor who examined the accused said his wounds were self-inflicted. Meanwhile, Deputy State Pathologist Michael Curtis said Ms Pricajan’s wounds were inflicted from behind and could not be self-inflicted.
The trial heard the defendant flew to Dublin from Romania three days before the murder. He brought two knives and did not tell Ms Pricajan he was coming.
He booked into the IMI residence late on the Monday night. He walked the short distance to her home but did not contact her.
He printed out maps of where she worked and walked a number of times to the bus stop she used, until he intercepted her there on her way home from night duty on the morning of January 27th.
He took her back to his bedroom, put a “do not disturb” sign on the door and took the bedroom phone off the hook until the morning of the 28th, when he rang reception looking for help.
Rigor mortis had already begun in the nurse’s body, which lay face-down on a blood-soaked bed. The killer’s bloodstained knives were found nearby. His victim’s phone had been dismantled and his blood was found on its battery.
The defendant claimed she had spoken of being stressed that night and asked him if he had the courage to end his life. He said he told her he had and she then cut his throat.
However, footage of Ms Pricajan crying in her shower was found on his phone.
He was heard questioning her about her current boyfriend and threatening to put this footage of her naked on the internet.
“I’m going to post that on YouTube so people can know you’re a whore,” he said.
Det Insp Martin Cummins told Mr Justice Paul Carney the victim’s parents, Mia and Pasu Pricajan, had been in court throughout the trial. However, they had to return home before the verdict after running out of medication.
Ms Pricajan was their only child and this was the first time they had left their village in rural Romania.
Garda Ofelia Hough read a victim impact statement they had prepared.
“Our life without Loredana means nothing. She was our only child. Going to the place where her life was taken caused us an indescribable feeling of pain and also a lot of stress,” it said.
“We also found very traumatic our trip to Ireland and our presence here in court.
“Our only reason for living now is to go to her grave to bring her flowers and mourn her,” it concluded.
Brendan Grehan SC, defending, asked his client if he would like to say something.
He stood up slowly and said: “I think everything has been said.”
Mr Justice Paul Carney imposed the mandatory life sentence.
The victim’s boyfriend at the time of her death said afterwards he knew Mihalache Marian was causing problems for Ms Pricajan. Cristian Sirbu spoke of his relief at the verdict and said he hoped to now move on with his life.
“Finally, justice has been done,” said the Romanian, who lives in Belgium but attended each day of the trial.
The victim’s colleagues from Ailesbury Nursing Home also attended the entire trial.
“We feel that justice has been served,” said the home’s manager, James Fagan. “It’s very difficult for everybody but we’re glad that there’s closure on the case.” He described the nurse as a lovely girl and a great employee.
“She was very well-liked and very popular,” he said. “She is sorely missed.”